the fact that i intent to share part of this presentation with another community activist, miss cathy lenz who has the expertise in the issue of tree preservation and she will be speaking tonight as a co-presenter on behalf of this appeal. the reason why we are appealing this particular, these tree removal permits, is because, we are rapidly losing our canopy in the park merced at one time when it was designed we had over 2,000 trees. and we are now down to 1500. and we believe the reason why we are starting to see a major loss in trees is because of park merced's rush to get their new project under way. and there has been reference to that by a couple of people that submitted letters, to this board. and on behalf of this appeal and we believe that is the real reason why these trees truly are being removed and it is unfortunate that we have a particular department the bureau of urban forestry, and approving the rapid deforestation of our community and so that is why we are here today to preserve at least three more significant trees, these are trees that are called significant because of t

cathy lenz, and i have a degree in hort culture from the city college. and my specialty was pruning and small trees, 25 feet and under. i contacted a second arborist because although we agree, at least two of the three trees can be preserved, our original arborist i did not feel did a good job. so i got a report which i submitted to the board. and commissioners, from ted kiplin who is in my opinion, one of the best tree people in the bay area. and so i refer you to that. and i submitted it. and i want to start with the first tree, on gonzales, 605. here it is. photo. >> well, okay. there is the photo. and i am happy if my testimony is not witness enough to contact ted and have him come in. and it was very expensive to get him, and to come in it would have been another 500. and i thought that i could prevent it. >> with 79 percent of all of the large trees in the city, being removed, i think that everything should be done to preserve the trees that we have. replanting it will not bring these trees back. ted gives 70 percent chance that this tree can be sa